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USC vs Colorado: 5 Keys To Victory Over the Buffaloes
Oct 1, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans defensive back Adoree’ Jackson (2) warms up prior to the game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
In order to win the USC vs Colorado game, the Trojans must get players like Adoree’ Jackson and JuJu Smith-Schuster involved.
Though it’s still early in the season, USC vs Colorado could be the turning point for both squads, one looking to keep things on the upswing and one looking to prove their resume.
The Trojans are coming off their best performance of the season, one that could prove the roadmap to success for the remainder of the season.
First though, the men of Troy have a challenge on their hands to knock the Buffaloes off their perch atop the Pac-12 south.
Here’s the five keys to a USC victory over Colorado….
Unleash Adoree’ Jackson
Trojan head coach Clay Helton pointed out this week that special teams could play a major role in the game this weekend, specifically because it held so much weight when Colorado lost to Michigan.
The Wolverines scored two special teams touchdowns on the day, a kick block returned for a touchdown, then sealing the victory, a Jabril Peppers 54-yard punt return in the fourth quarter.
USC’s Adoree’ Jackson already has a punt return touchdown to his name this year and is averaging 23 yards per return. The Pac-12 leader in punt returns, Washington’s Dante Pettis, is averaging 14.33 on returns by comparison — a statistic Jackson doesn’t qualify for because he has only fielded five punts this season.
Jackson is also averaging 31 yards per kickoff return, and has scored by that method in 2016 as well.
Colorado has not given up a kickoff return touchdown yet, but they are worst in the conference with 24 yards per return averaged by their opposition.
The only thing that remains to see, is whether or not the Buffaloes kick Jackson’s way.
Oct 1, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (9) runs the ball after a catch during the second half against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Get JuJu Smith-Schuster The Ball
The last time JuJu Smith-Schuster faced an top-level NFL prospect at cornerback, it did not go well for the Trojan receiver.
Alabama’s Minkah Fitzpatrick limited Smith-Schuster to just one catch for nine yards. Said catch came in the third quarter, after USC’s hopes of defeating the Tide had long passed.
At the time, the Trojans offense was a different animal. Tee Martin was calling plays for the first time in his career and USC didn’t seem to know how to get the best out of their best offensive weapons.
That won’t cut it again, with Smith-Schuster facing another test in Colorado’s Chidobe Awuzie.
Awuzie may be the most underrated player in the conference, but is well on his way to securing a first team All-Pac-12 nod this season.
As capable as Awuzie is, however, Smith-Schuster is an NFL prospect as well, one who could reaffirm his own abilities with a top performance against one of the top secondaries in the conference.
Last time around, Smith-Schuster had just three catches for 66 yards against the Buffaloes, but his hand was broken at the time.
This year, since the Alabama game, USC’s No. 9 has steadily increased his involvement in the offense, culminating in a three-touchdown performance against ASU.
Whether it’s Smith-Schuster getting the better of Awuzie or the Trojans finding a way to keep him involved in the game, getting the ball in the hands of USC’s best receiver is a priority.
Oct 1, 2016; Boulder, CO, USA; Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Shay Fields (1) carries the ball for his third touchdown reception as Oregon State Beavers safety Brandon Arnold (3) attempts to tackle in the first half at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Keep The Buffalo Offense In Front
How dangerous have Colorado’s receivers been at getting chunk yardage this season?
Three Buffalo pass catchers are among the seven top receivers in the Pac-12 with receptions of 30 or more yards. The team as a whole ranks No. 2 nationally in pass plays of 40 or more yards.
On the other side of the equation, USC has given up nine pass plays of 30+ yards in 2016.
Many of those were miscommunications during contests against Alabama and Stanford, but keeping those lapses at a minimum are key in this one as well.
After all, when Colorado launched their ultimately unsuccessful upset bid at Michigan, one of the top defenses in the country, big plays were at the heart of the action. Devin Ross caught two different 37-yard touchdowns, Shay Fields had one of his own for 70-yards, while Bryce Bobo had a long catch of 50 yards.
USC’s cornerback duo of Adoree’ Jackson and Iman Marshall has the capability of sticking with receivers, but both have been caught giving up big gains, including the final game-winning score against Utah.
And it won’t be just Jackson and Marshall responsible for keeping Colorado’s receivers quiet. Facing four-wide receiver sets, nickel cornerback Jonathan Lockett, who had his first career interception last week, will be an essential part of USC’s defense, as will safeties Leon McQuay III, Chris Hawkins and Marvell Tell III.
Sep 17, 2016; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Steven Montez (12) passes under pressure from Michigan Wolverines defensive tackle Ryan Glasgow (96) in the second half at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Make the Quarterback Uncomfortable
After giving up 40 sacks in 2015, worst in the conference, Colorado has improved their pass protection immensely, allowing just eight this year.
Half of those came in one game, the one loss on the Buffaloes record to Michigan. It’s not just that the Wolverines broke through for four sacks. They harried the Colorado quarterbacks with eight hurries on the day.
USC was similarly successful against ASU in that regard last week, though the stats are not as impressive. With three sacks and one key QB hurry, the Trojans were able to use a combination of blitzes and organic pressure from up front to keep Sun Devil signal callers Manny Wilkins and Brady White uncomfortable while still keeping both contained as runners.
Whether it’s Steven Montez or Sefo Liufau who takes the field on Saturday, USC’s ability to pressure quickly will play a major role in how effective the Buffalo offense can operate.
The bread and butter of Colorado’s attack is short passing, the kind that could easily negate a delayed pass rush and punish ineffective blitz attempts. There will be short window to attack the quarterback and USC must take advantage of it.
Of course, there are other ways to make quarterbacks uncomfortable, one USC has already had a good deal of success utilizing. Rasheem Green, Uchenna Nwosu and Stevie Tu’ikolovatu have each batted passes down at the line this season. Disrupting pass lanes in the trenches will be essential as well.
Sep 23, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; USC Trojans defensive back Jonathan Lockett (23) deflects a pass intended for Utah Utes wide receiver Cory Butler-Byrd (16) during a NCAA football game at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Utah defeated USC 31-27. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Get Off the Field
Colorado has been exceptional in 2016 in extending drives by converting third downs. Since their quick passing style is dependent on nibbling at defenses underneath, the success on conversions has been a key part of their rise this year.
In fact, the Buffaloes have attempted 70 third downs already this season. That’s ranked 23rd in the country.
Among teams with as many or more third down attempts, Colorado’s conversion rate of 49.37 is fourth nationally, behind only Houston, TCU and Florida.
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USC hasn’t been particularly adept at getting off the field in those situations with a 40 percent mark, which is middling at best compared to other teams in both the Pac-12 and college football as a whole.
The good news is that the Trojans kept ASU well below their average last week, holding them at 35 percent, a best for USC’s defense this season and a worst for the Sun Devils.
It’s notable that Michigan allowed just one third down conversion on 13 attempts by Colorado when they met in September, the Buffaloes’ only loss on the year.
The Trojans’ ability to do something similar could very well be the difference between winning and losing.
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